Shetland wool

noun

1. the fine wool undercoat pulled by hand from Shetland sheep.

2. thin, loosely twisted wool yarn for knitting or weaving.

Shetland wool

noun

1. a fine loosely twisted wool yarn spun from the fleece of Shetland sheep and used esp for sweaters

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shetland wool¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

His nondescript button-down shirt, Shetland wool sweater and windbreaker is a pretty convincing preppy disguise.

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Sheep here outnumber people by 20 to 1, and inclement weather on the islands has encouraged the local sheep to grow a softer and lighter weight fiber that makes Shetland wool unique.

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And, much like the war years when all able-bodied persons joined in the effort, Johnston enlisted a friend’s mother to hand-knit multiples of the three-piece pram set in flecked Shetland wool.

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My present was an orange crewneck sweater, slightly stained but made, Mom pointed out, of genuine Shetland wool.

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Not far from it was an educational display that showed how much horsehair, cotton, mohair, Shetland wool and fleece could be stuffed into a Vi-Spring mattress from Britain.

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